Electrical switch.



L. W. FLACK. ELECTRICAL swlTcH.

. APPLICATION FlLlD AUG. I3, 1914. I LWSJYQQ; Patend Apr. 1mm

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.`

LOUIS W. FLACK, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Application filed August 13, v1914. Serial No. 856,649.

To all whom t mayy concern:

Be it known that I,LOUIS W. FLACK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to that class of switches known as pull switches.

The object of my invention resides in the provision of a switch of the above character which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and durable in construction, and also will provide' a vquick make and lbreak of the circuit.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved casing for containing the parts of my improved switch.

Another object of my invention is .to provide a. switch of the above-mentioned character which will remain in the position set whether closed or open, the operating mechanism returning to normal position after every movement of the switch.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch that contains but one operating chain or cord' so as to obviate the necessity of providing a pair of chains, one for closing the switch and the other for opening the same.

I attain the above objects set forth by the provision of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved switch taken through the center of the same, and showing several of the parts in elevation. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, a portion of the partition being broken away so as to show the parts in elevation.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which the preferred embodiment ofI 4 my invention is illustrated. I provide a casing 1 closed at One end by means of a plate 2, the opposite end of the casing 1' being .closed by the member 3, said member 3 formmg a supporting element for the switch mechanism, and at the same time serving as a means for closing the end of the 'easing 1. The switch supporting element 3 is formed somewhat in the manner of a plug, having a transverse opening 4 therethrough.. The switch mechanism is journaled in the walls 5 and 6 of the said opening 4. It will be readily understood that the casing 1, plate 2 and switch supporting element 3 are all formed of non-conductive material, preferably porcelain, glass or other similar materials generally-used for this purpose.

The switch element which I desire to provide consists preferably of a crank shaft 7, said crank shaft 7 being journaled in the walls 5 and 6 of the opening 4 in the member 3, the crank portion 8 of the crank shaft 7 being disposed within the opening 4. As shown to advantage in Figs. 1 and 2 the crank shaft 7 has the lower end 9 thereof journaled in an opening in the wall 5 of the opening 4, and the opposite end of the crank shaft 7 terminates in a squared portion l10 on which is mounted a disk element 11,

the construction and configuration of the same being set forth hereinafter.

The circuit closing .element is preferably loosely mounted on the crank shaft 7 and is formed substantially U-shaped as shown in Fig. 1 by the numeral 12. The intermediate portion 13 of said circuit closing element serving as the means for closing the circuit, this being done by the said `portion 13 abridging the terminals 14 and 15 of the electrical circuit, these members 14 and 15 being mounted in the Walls 5 and 6 of the member 3, andinsulated from one another. The circuit closing element 13 is U-shaped and loosely mounted on the crank shaft 7 by means of enlarging the terminal ends of the said eircuitlclosing element 12, as shown at 16,`the enlarged portions 16 being provided with transverse openings which are adapted to receive the crank shaft 7, embracing the crank 8, and being spaced therefrom so as not to interfere with the movement of the same. The crank 8 and the intermediate portion 13 of the U-shaped circuit closing element 12 are yieldably connected by means of'a spiral or other spring 17, the terminals of said spring 17 being secured to lugs 18 on the crank 8 and the circuit closingelement 13;

ln order to actuate the crank 8 for closing and opening the circuit 1 have, as set forth above, provided the disk element 11, said disk element 11 being provided with a square opening 19 which is adapted to receive the squared end 10 of the shaft 7 so as to cause the shaft 7 to rotate with the disk 11.

In order to rotate the disk 11, a slot or elongated U-shaped opening is provided in the disk 11 and disposed in Such a manner that the same embraces the central point of the disk. r1`his slot is indicated generally by the numeral 20, said slot 2O having an arcuate portion'21, and divergent portions 22 and 22 extending from the same, all forming a substantially U-shapedelongated opening in the disk 11. rllhe arcuate portion 21 is described in the arc of a circle similar to one described from the center point oi the disk 11, and the arcuate portion 21 eX- tends slightly into the disk 11 as showi at to provide recesses for the purpose to be hereinafter described. Mounted on the disk 11 and carried in the slot 20 is a bushing 24 having heads 25 on each end of the same whereby to prevent displacement of the bushing 24 fromthe slot 20. The object of the recesses 23 is to provide seats for reception of the bushing during the time when the same is in an inoperative position.

1n order to actuate the bushing 24 one end of a chain 26 is secured in a loop 27 mounted on the bushing 24, and a spring 28 serves as a means for returning the bushing to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1. The stationary end of the spring 28 is secured to a hook 29 which is mounted in an opening 30 in the wall of the casing 1 and a chain extends across the disk 11 and passes through an opening 31 positioned diametrically opposite the opening 30.

The switch as shown in the drawings is in the open position, and the disk 11 is in its normal position when the switch is open. lVhen it is desiredv to close the switch, the chain 26 is pulled and the chain being fastened to the bushing 24 carries the same with it. When the chain 26 is pulled in a downward direction the bushing 24 is moved in the slot 22 until the bushing 24 strikes the end of the slot 22 causing the disk 11 to be rotated in the direction indicated b v the arrow, until the same has been moved into the dotted line position indicated at Then the disk 11 is rotated in this direction the crank shaft 7 is rotated with it thereby moving the crank 8 from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4 to the dotted line position shown in'Eig. 4.

'Moving the crank 8 into the dotted line K position until the same isbeyond the point airs-rea of alinement between the crank 8 and the circuit closing element 12 will cause the said circuit closing element 12 to swing with the crank 8 by virtue of its yieldable connection with the said crank 8, the spring always tending to draw the crank and the circuit closing element 12 together, movement oi the two members 12 andr 8 being limited in one case by the terminals 14 and 15 of 'the electric circuit and in the other case by the wall of the opening 4. The dotted line position in Fig. 4 indicates the switch in closed position, the spring 17 being received between the terminals 14 and 15 and not interfering with the vproper closing and opening of thecircuit. From the above it will be seen that the circuit closing element will be caused to suddenly close the circuit and open the same due to the spring 17 acting upon the member 12 to rapidly move into abridgement of the terminals 14 and 15 and when opening to rapidlybreak the circuit. so as to prevent arcing or sparking at the contact point.

When the switch is in closed postion as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4 and it is desired to open the switch, the chain 26 is again pulled in a downward direction, and the bushing 24 will now traverse the slot 22 until the bushing 24 strikes the end of the slot 22. Continuing to pull the chain in a downward direction will cause the bushing 24 to rotate the disk until the crank has passed center, at which time the spring 17 will actuate the arm 12 to open the electric circuit'. A

The terminals 14 and 15 have wires 15 secured to the ends of the same, said wires 15 being connected to the electric circuit.`

As is clearly shown in the drawings the mechanism for actuating the switch to open and closethe same is separated by a partition from the circuit closing element so as to prevent any short circuit or accidental contact of the parts.

As can be readily seen from the drawings the construction of the casing allows of ready access to the parts should the same become out of order or inoperative, as the plate 2 in practice may be secured by screws or other suitable means and can be removed readily, and the switch supporting element 3 in practice may be detachably mounted in the casing 1 so that the disk, crank shaft, circuit closing element and the circuit terminals may be removed together.

From the above it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that 1 have provided an electric switch which is simple in construction, durable and eective in operation, all tending toward a cheapness oi construction. A

rThe construction ot the crank 8 and the circuit closing element 13 it will be seen is one which is advantageous and it has been icc found in practice that this construction is the most desirable, however, it is desired that it be understood that I may makesuch changes in the minor details of construction which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-` ent, is

l. In an electric switch, a partitioned casing, a crank shaft in said casing, circuit closing means carried by said crank and yieldably connected thereto, a slotted disk element mounted on `said crank shaft and adapted to rotate with said shaft and means operable in said element for rotating the same and actuating the crank shaft.

2. In an electric switch, a partitioned casing, a crank shaft journaled in one section of said casing, a switch element loosely mounted on said crank shaft. yieldable connection between the switch` element and the crank, a disk carried by said crank shaft having a slot therein, and means operable in said slot and in a Xed direction for traversing the slot and rotating the disk and crank shaft.

3. In an electric switch, a partitioned casing, a crank shaft journaled in said casing, a switch element loosely mounted on said crank shaft and yieldably connected therewith, a disk carried by said crank shaft having a substantially U-shaped slot therein,

said slot being disposed around the center of saiddisk, and means operable in saidslot for rotating the disk and actuating the circuit closing element.

4. In an electric switch, the combination with an operating member, a circuit closer including a U-shaped crank portion, a U-' portion, the extremities of which are journaled upon the crank portion and embrace the latter, said circuit closing portion being disposed oppositely to the crank portionrand vieldably connected thereto, whereby movement of said crank portion past a given point will impart movement in a rotary di'- rection to said U-shaped portion opposite to the movement of said crank portion. t In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS W. FLACK.

Witnesses:

DELLA SCHAUB, WILLARD A. SHERER. 

